Yankees: At last check, they had yet to upgrade their starting rotation. Ubaldo Jimenez is one physical exam from becoming a Cleveland Indian, and Hiroki Kuroda isn’t going anywhere. Do you really think the Yankees are going to sit this one out?

Braves: Carlos Beltran and Hunter Pence landed elsewhere, and the Braves still need a center fielder. Will they swing a deal for B.J. Upton, Michael Bourn, Coco Crisp – or someone else?

Rangers: Yes, they swung a deal for Koji Uehara. But what about Heath Bell?

White Sox: Kenny Williams is downplaying the chances for a major trade … which only heightens the intrigue. Despite hints at a possible shakeup, the White Sox are 5-2 in their last seven games. After moving Edwin Jackson, they’re interested in adding rotation depth at a low cost – a Bruce Chen type, perhaps.

Red Sox: Much like their rivals in the Bronx, the Red Sox haven’t made a significant pitching upgrade. And Theo Epstein is the type of general manager who won’t be afraid to make a big move right at the deadline.

Twins and Nationals: We’re all waiting on the Denard Span for Drew Storen trade.

Padres: They have a lot of bullpen inventory ready to move, not to mention outfielder Ryan Ludwick and starter Aaron Harang. The sale should start any minute now.

Check back with FOXSports.com and on Twitter (@Ken_Rosenthal and @jonmorosi) for updates throughout the day.

The Rangers’ priority from the start was to upgrade their bullpen. If they could make a deal work for the Mets’ Carlos Beltran, great. If not, they would keep trying to add a reliever or two.

Now that Beltran is on the verge of going to the Giants, the Rangers’ focus will not change. They are talking to the Padres about closer Heath Bell and setup man Mike Adams, sources say. They also are interested in Athletics closer Andrew Bailey and setup man Grant Balfour, though Bailey is a distinct longshot.

The Braves, another loser in the Beltran sweepstakes, will simply try to add a lesser bat. They entered the mix for the Astros’ Hunter Pence on Wednesday, and also have shown interest in the Padres’ Ryan Ludwick and others.

The Beltran trade highlighted a philosophical difference between the Giants, who were willing to give up top pitching prospect Zach Wheeler, and the Braves, who are deeper in young arms but refused to part with any of their elite prospects for a two-month rental.

The chances of Colorado ace Ubaldo Jimenez being dealt are now “around 50/50,” according to one major league source close to the talks.

For the moment, though, some of the suitors are dismayed at what they believe are high demands. An executive of one interested team described the current price tag as “unrealistic.” But that could change in the days leading up to Sunday’s 4 p.m. ET non-waiver deadline.

The Reds have been pursuing Jimenez for weeks, sources say, and they remain very much involved in the talks. The Tigers, who seem determined to add a starter, have Jimenez near the top of their list, as well.

Other teams who have at least checked in include the Yankees, Red Sox and Rangers, sources say. The Rangers, though, are focused primarily on adding a reliever.

An exchange of names has occurred between the Rockies and at least one team, a source said.

B.J. Upton might not be Carlos Beltran, but he’s rapidly emerging as a potential alternative for teams in the Beltran sweepstakes.

The Giants, while continuing to pursue Beltran, also are showing interest in Upton, according to major-league sources.

Upton, 27, would be a logical fit for the Giants, upgrading their offense and providing strong defense in center field behind the National League’s top pitching staff.

Beltran, 34, is a superior offensive force to Upton, but his full no-trade clause and pending free agency make him more problematic as a trade target.

Upton can be obtained without restriction and is under club control through next season. The Giants and other clubs likely would be more willing to sacrifice prospects for a player they could keep for another year.

The Indians, a team that showed early interest in Beltran, also is pursuing Upton, sources say. Several other suitors for Beltran - the Braves, Phillies and Rangers – also could target Upton.

The Giants are using Nate Schierholtz as their primary right fielder. The addition of Upton would give the team three outfielders – Upton, Andres Torres and Cody Ross - for two spots.

Ross, a right-handed hitter, could platoon in left with Torres, a switch-hitter who has been much stronger from the left side this season. Torres plays all three outfield positions. Upton has played center almost exclusively in his career.

Playing for the defending World Series champions at sold-out AT&T Park could energize Upton, who occasionally has drawn criticism for his seemingly disinterested play in Tampa Bay.

Upton also could be motivated by playing in the same division as his younger brother Justin, who is the right fielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Believe it or not, outfielder Carlos Beltran isn’t the Mets’ only trade asset. But at the moment, he is dominating the team’s internal and external trade discussions, and not simply because his value is so high.

Beltran’s full no-trade clause likely will force the Mets to secure a deal several days before the July 31 non-waiver deadline. If Beltran rejects Plan A, the team then will need to act quickly and present him with Plan B.

The Mets are aware of Beltran’s preferred destinations and comfortable they will secure his approval, sources say. Some in baseball suspect that Beltran wants to stay in the NL, and he told Newsday that he also will weigh two other considerations — the quality of a team’s pitching staff and his reluctance to serve as a DH.

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The Giants, Phillies, Braves are the NL teams showing the strongest interest in Beltran, sources say. The Red Sox, who would use Beltran in right field, also are in the mix. The Rangers like Beltran, but the bullpen is their greater priority.

Most of the Beltran talks thus far qualify as preliminary, sources say. The Mets expect to know more about each team’s intent by Monday, and after that they will start weeding out the suitors.

Once the Mets act on Beltran, they can listen more seriously to offers for some of their other players. The team, however, likely will proceed carefully. Club officials do not want to give up on the season entirely.

The Mets are reluctant to trade reliever Jason Isringhausen, who has value to them as a late-inning reliever and mentor to their younger pitchers. They also are likely to retain catcher Ronny Paulino, who is under club control through 2012, and right-hander Mike Pelfrey, who is down in value and under control through ’13.

The Rangers aren’t messing around. They’ve got more money and prospects than most clubs, and they’re scouring the top of the market for bullpen help.

Among their targets, according to major-league sources: The Padres’ two prizes, closer Heath Bell and setup man Mike Adams; Nationals All-Star setup man Tyler Clippard and Athletics closer Andrew Bailey, the 2009 American League Rookie of the Year.

The asking prices for each of the above relievers is high, sources say; the non-waiver deadline is still two weeks away. The Athletics, according to one source, will not trade Bailey unless they receive an “overwhelming” offer. The Nationals are believed to be taking a similar approach with Clippard.

The Padres remain in active discussions with the Phillies, Yankees and other clubs on Bell and Adams, sources say. The Rangers possess an advantage in their talks with the Padres, Athletics and other offensively challenged clubs – they can offer a major-league ready hitter, Triple A first baseman/third baseman Chris Davis.

The Rangers have checked in with the Marlins about their pitching but no names have been exchanged, major-league sources say.

The talks are “not far along,” one source said, but there is a good fit between the clubs. Texas has one of the richest farm systems in baseball, and the Marlins’ pattern of dealing arbitration-eligible veterans for prospects is well-established.

Marlins starter Anibal Sanchez and closer Leo Nuñez will receive substantial raises through salary arbitration in 2012, after which they are scheduled to enter free agency. Since the right-handers are enjoying good seasons, this might be the optimal time for Florida to move one or both.

Starter Ricky Nolasco is another trade candidate. But he signed a three-year, $26.5 million contract extension before this season, so the Marlins have control of him for longer than Sanchez or Nuñez.

It’s worth noting that the Marlins and Rangers engaged in more serious trade discussions – about pitching – during last December’s winter meetings.

The Rangers’ need for pitching may not be as intense as it was earlier in the season. They have won eight in a row, following a complete-game shutout by 24-year-old lefty Derek Holland on Thursday night.

Right-hander Brian Gordon, the latest Yankees’ overnight sensation, could have been pitching for the Rangers instead of against them on Thursday afternoon.

The Rangers expressed interest in signing Gordon after their 12-4 loss to the Yankees in the series opener Tuesday, according to the pitcher’s agent, David Schwartz.

But Gordon, 32, already had decided to opt out of his minor-league deal with the Phillies and sign with the Yankees.

“(The Rangers) had been interested from the beginning, but didn’t think they had a lot of room,” Schwartz said.

“On Tuesday, when their pitching staff was getting beat up, they got more interested. But by then, we had come to a verbal agreement – he was going to New York.”

Gordon, 32, had made only three previous major-league appearances – for the Rangers in Sept. 2008. But he allowed only two runs in 5 1/3 innings Thursday, and the Yankees beat the Rangers, 3-2, in 12 innings.

Besides Gordon's prior connection with the Rangers, his mother once worked as an office manager for the Astros’ Triple A Round Rock (Tex.) affiliate, the team that Nolan Ryan owned before he became the Rangers’ club president.

Ryan advised Gordon in his conversion from an outfielder to a pitcher in ’07.

“Brian has a lot of history with Texas, and vice versa,” Schwartz said. “Nolan is there. There was always a potential fit. They were a little late in the draw.”

Gordon was a 5-0 with a 1.14 ERA for the Phillies’ Triple A affiliate. Any team could have triggered his opt-out by bringing him to the majors.

The Yankees jumped.

“Brian Cashman deserves a ton of credit,” Schwartz said, referring to the Yankees’ general manager.

“I talked to a number of teams over the last several days. A number of teams could have used Brian a lot more than the Yankees. But people didn’t have updated reports, current video. They were reluctant to pull the trigger.

“People talk about the Yankees and their big budget. This was as low-budget and low-risk as you can get. (Gordon) has (a minor-league option) left. If it didn’t work out, you could just send him to the minors.”

Gordon will make his second start for the Yankees on Tuesday in Cincinnati.

Mets closer Francisco Rodriguez says he doesn’t want to be traded to a team that would use him as a setup man.

He would, however, consider filling that role for a club that acquired him, signed him to a contract extension and returned him to the closer’s role next season.

“That would be great,” Rodriguez said Friday. “That would be no problem.”

Rodriguez, 29, has a limited no-trade clause that allows him to block trades to 10 undisclosed teams. His market would shrink further if he said publicly that he was only willing to close.

But that is not his position.

While Rodriguez said, “I honestly don’t really want to go anywhere else and set up,” he added, “at the same time, I’m not closing the door” – particularly if he is asked to set up only for the rest of this season and assured of his future.

The Rangers are an example of a club that might be interested in Rodriguez under such conditions. They could use Rodriguez as a setup man, then make him the closer next season and move Neftali Feliz to the rotation.

Under that scenario, the Rangers would not need to worry about Rodriguez finishing 55 games and guaranteeing his $17.5 million option for next season. They could sign Rodriguez to an extension at a lower salary.

Rodriguez currently is on pace to finish 62 games. Teams might balk at acquiring him as a closer even if the Mets contribute $3.5 million to cover what would have been his buyout, something the team is willing to do.

Rodriguez is 15-for-16 in save opportunities, and had a 0.74 ERA in 25 games before allowing three runs in the ninth inning Friday night in a 6-4 loss to the Phillies.

• Still no signs — none — that the Padres are willing to trade closer Heath Bell to the Rangers or any other club before Opening Day.

The Padres, coming off a 90-win season, are reluctant to upset their fan base before even playing a game, particularly after trading first baseman Adrian Gonzalez during the offseason.

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The Mariners, recognizing that their offense would be challenged, made a strong push for Gonzalez late in spring training a year ago, according to a major-league source.

Good thing the Padres kept Gonzalez; their surprising 2010 season would have turned out much differently otherwise.

• A scout in Arizona expresses concern about Brewers closer John Axford, who has an 8.44 ERA in seven appearances this spring.

“He has a very complicated delivery,” the scout says. “You have to manage him day by day, inning by inning, pitch by pitch.”

Rick Peterson, the Brewers’ former pitching coach, succeeded in doing that with Axford last season. Peterson’s replacement, Rick Kranitz, inherits the challenge.

• The Marlins are unlikely to seek outside help at third base if they demote Matt Dominguez, according to a source with knowledge of the team’s thinking.

Dominguez, batting .175 entering Wednesday’s play, looks increasingly unlikely to make the club. The Marlins’ current plan is to use Omar Infante at second and choose from among Emilio Bonifacio, Wes Helms and Donnie Murphy at third.

The team does not want to add to its projected Opening Day payroll of approximately $60 million.

• The Padres and A’s are among the teams looking for backup infielders who can play shortstop. The Orioles’ Robert Andino and Mets’ Luis Hernandez, both of whom are out of options, are among the players who likely could be had.

The Padres’ need stems from Kevin Frandsen’s difficulties playing shortstop. Everth Cabrera could serve as Jason Bartlett’s backup, but the Padres want Cabrera to play at Triple A.

• Tigers right-hander Brad Penny, engaged to “Dancing with the Stars” pro Karina Smirnoff, jokes that her demeanor is the opposite of his.

“She’s a real good girl, easy to be around,” Penny says. “She’s great. You’d love her. Great personality. Kind of goes with mine — no personality.”

• Finally, here’s to Will Rhymes, the 5-foot-9, 155-pound battler who says he overcame a “lifetime of being an underdog” to win the Tigers’ second-base job.

Rhymes, a 27th-round pick in 2005, was not even invited to major-league spring training last season; the Tigers were grooming another prospect, Scott Sizemore, for the job.

This time Rhymes beat out Sizemore, in large part because he batted .304 in 191 at-bats last season, manager Jim Leyland said.

Rhymes, who turns 28 on April 1, figures to remain at second until Carlos Guillen recovers from microfracture knee surgery, which could be a while.

Blue Jays catcher Jose Molina said Saturday that his older brother Bengie still wants to play in the majors. However, Jose made it clear that Bengie only will sign a contract that shows him sufficient respect, seemingly ruling out any chance of a minor-league deal.

Bengie Molina, who turns 37 on July 20, earned $4.5 million last season while playing for both World Series participants, the Giants and Rangers. His .623 OPS was his lowest since 2002, and any interested club surely would wonder how long it would take him to get in game shape.

Jose Molina, a former Yankee, was part of the Jays’ traveling contingent to Tampa on Saturday for a Grapefruit League game against the Yankees. Jose said that Yankees manager Joe Girardi asked him if Bengie planned to resume his career, but Girardi might have inquired only out of curiosity. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said flatly that the team is not looking for outside help at catcher.

Still, the Yankees are not exactly set at the position. Russell Martin, the new starter, is coming off knee surgery, a hip injury and two poor offensive seasons. Jesus Montero has regressed in the past 10 days, scouts say, and is engaged in a “cage fight” with Austin Romine for the backup job, according to Cashman.

Felix Hernandez has a 10-team no-trade clause in his contract with the Seattle Mariners. During this season, the right-hander will be able to block deals to the New York Yankees, New York Mets, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers, Philadelphia Phillies and two unknown teams, a major league source said.

We shouldn’t infer from that list that Hernandez wants to avoid large-market clubs. Rather, astute players (and agents) will often protect against trades to high-revenue teams, because those clubs (a) are most likely to be interested in acquiring expensive players and (b) have the wherewithal to offer financial inducements that encourage players to waive the clauses.

Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik has said Hernandez isn’t available on the trade market. But some in the industry believe that could change if the Mariners start slowly for a second straight year.

Hernandez signed a five-year, $78 million contract extension prior to last season. The deal is actually richer than that, since Hernandez’s 2011 salary jumped from $10 million to $11 million after he won the Cy Young Award last season.

SURPRISE, Ariz. — Joe Torre, chatting with reporters Wednesday in his new role as MLB’s executive vice-president for baseball operations, displayed the same relaxed manner he did in his daily news conferences as a manager.

Torre touched on a wide variety of topics, offering insights on the pace of game, Michael Young’s situation with the Rangers and MLB’s recent hirings of Dodgers assistant GM Kim Ng, former Diamondbacks assistant GM and Peter Woodfork as senior VPs.

Pace of game is an issue that Torre will now tackle from a different perspective. During his days managing the Yankees, the Yankees and Red Sox received frequent criticism for playing lengthy games.

“I want to look at it,” Torre said. “That’s a dirty job for the umpires. In talking to the managers, that’s certainly something we’ve mentioned.

“As managers — and this only came to me when I was part of the commissioner’s committee (for on-field matters) — we have to do our share. Have the players understand what we’re trying to do. We’re not trying to change guys’ idiosyncracies. But we want to at least make them aware that it’s not a punishment.

“It’s just something we’re trying to work on. It’s a hot button for the commissioner. I don’t think there’s any question about it. It’s a ‘feel’ thing at this time. I’m not trying to avoid the question. It’s more, ‘let’s look at it.’”

As for his new senior VPs, Torre worked with Ng with both the Yankees and Dodgers. He is less familiar with Woodfork, but offered high praise for both.

“She’s very efficient. She’s very bright," Torre said of Ng. "As a manager, I always tried to hire people smarter than I am, because it certainly helps. She has a lot of baseball knowledge. She’s very organized.

“I just met Peter last week. I’m very impressed with his abilities. I think the energy level at MLB is going to be very impressive. These people know what they’re doing.

"Down the road, I’m sure they aspire to be the general manager of a club. This is great for two people who have been on both sides of this thing. They both worked for MLB at one time.”

And finally, Torre mentioned that he personally complimented Michael Young while visiting the Rangers on Wednesday. Young has requested a trade from the Rangers, but has gone about his business professionally this spring.

“I told him I was proud of him. I said that he’s a grownup,” Torre said. “The thing about baseball is that there’s a lot of unpredictability about the game. You have to understand that you’ve got to be ready.

“They say managers change their mind — that’s true. But managers make decisions on what you have available to you on that particular day. If something changes, it’s not like you’re changing your mind, but you have a different set of circumstances to deal with.

“But Michael Young is a throwback for me. He just works hard. You try to tell players, ‘Control the things you can control.’ Leave the other stuff to somebody else. He’s certainly doing that.”